Signal switch



Jan. 8, 1935. P 'rl MCDONOUGH 1,987,534

SIGNAL sw-ITCH Filed Feb. 24, 1934 ff By Q `/qllomey Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in the general art of electrical Switches and more particularly to a switch for controlling automobile direction signals.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a signal switch which can be readily and conveniently operated by the drivers foot.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a signal switch of simple construction and which will not be susceptible to the development of ready defects.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional view through the foot controlled switch.

Figure 2 represents a sectional view taken substantially on line 7 7 of Figure l.

Figure 3 represents a fragmentary perspective view of the slotted end of one section of the switch base.

Figure 4 represents a fragmentary perspective view of the complementary end of the other base section.

Figure 5 represents a sectional view taken substantially on line -10 of Figure l.

Referring to the drawing, it can be seen that the novel switch construction consists of a base made up of the sections 212-23, the section 23 being provided with a slotted offset portion 24 for disposition over the adjacent end portion of the base 22, which adjacent end portion is provided with an opening 25 threaded to take a screw 26 disposed through the slot 27 in the portion 24.

On each of these sections 22-23 is an upwardly tapering casing 28 having a small opening 29 at its top through which extends a lever 30. The upper end of this lever 30 is provided with a head 31 constructed of suitable material, this being located at the outside of the casing 28, while at the inside of the casing and adjacent the head 31 is a boss 32 which prevents the lever 30 from rising. A vertical member 33 in the casing 28 supports a stationary contact 34 in the path of the contact 35 on the U-shaped or backturned end portion 36 at the lower end of the lever 30.

It can now be seen that the heads 31-31 are in opposed positions and that the springs 37 in 5 the casings 28 interposed between the levers 30 and the uprights 33 serve to normallymaintain the contact 35 spaced from the contact 34.

If the drivers foot is placed on the base between the casings 28 and moved to the left or to l0 the right, depending upon which direction he intends to steer his car, his shoe will abut one or the other of the heads 31 and cause a swingable motion of its lever, to the end that its contact 35 will engage with its complementary contact 34 l5 and complete electrical connection between the battery 9 shown in Figures l and 2 and the corresponding lamp 10 or 1l, at the front of the car or the lamps 10b or 11b at the rear of the car, and at the same time energize the corresponding 2 lamps 10e- 11EL in the pilot box 7.

While the foregoing specication sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing 25 from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is A switch structure comprising a shell having 30 a stationary contact mounted therein, said shell being provided with an opening therein, an elongated lever freely disposed through the said opening, said lever being provided with a contact at its inner end for engagement with the said 35 stationary contact, a head at the outer end of the lever limiting inward movement of the same, and a boss on the lever at the inner side of the shell to limit outward movement of the lever, the portion of the lever between the head and the 40 boss serving as a fulcrum against the edge portions of the shell at the opening.

PATRICK T. MCDONOUGH. 

